Link Between Learned Helplessness to Posttraumatic Stress...

Link Between Learned Helplessness to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Battered Woman Summary: Bargai,Ben-Shakhar, and Shalev (2007) designed a study to test the hypothesis that learned helplessness (LH) intervenes the relationship between violence severity and mental disorders in battered women, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MDD). They also hypothesis that the severity of LH, PTSD, and MDD is positively correlated with the severity of violence. Lastly, it was hypothesized that here is a significant correlation between LH and the invested background factors such as child abuse, socioeconomic and male-dominated backgrounds. The sample consisted of 102 battered woman from eight†¦show more content†¦An independent sample t-test was done to compare battered women with PTSD and those without PTSD. LH scores in PTSD-positive participants were significantly higher than those whom are non-PTSD. This suggest that there is a strong association between high levels of LH and PTSD in battered women. Furthermore, it was discovered that LH i s strongly associated with early cultural influence, especially in male-dominated backgrounds. Women who are raised in cultures and educational background that promote female submissiveness and prejudice against women are more likely to develop PTSD and depression as a result of male violence. Depression is especially highly correlated with PTSD. Sexual violence was the strongest predictor of PTSD, whereas physical violence alone wasn’t significantly correlated. History of child abuse increases LH and therefore, increasingthe risk of depression and PTSD. In conclusion, this study suggests that LH in battered women is associated both with prolonged exposure to violence and other risk factors outside of the abusive relationship, and that the LH mediates the contribution of violence exposure to PTSD and MDD in this population. Critique Overall this study was well designed to test the main hypothesis on learned helplessness contribution on the severity of violence as well as PTSD and MDD symptoms. To say that is experiment is valid is to say that the researchers measured what wereShow MoreRelatedCatastrophes and Stress2715 Words   |  11 PagesAilen Fernandez PSY 102 April 21, 2013 Jones, Jennifer Catastrophes and Stress American Leader Martin Luther King Jr. once said, â€Å"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity† (Martin). Luther King believed that in order for us humans to have a meaningful live we must put aside our personal problems and care about the problems of humanity as a whole. The earthquake of Oakland, California